Minnesota prep sports realignment means a tougher road for a perennial power

ROSEAU, Minn.--The familiar road back to the state tournament has some new obstacles for Roseau. The Rams won their fifth consecutive Section 8AA girls basketball title this season. But when the 2019-20 season opens, Roseau will be one of three t...

Written By:
Greg DeVillers |
Apr 21st 2019 - 8am.

Redwood Valley's Aubree Hicks (31) keeps hold of a rebound as Roseau's Katie Borowicz (23) and Julia Braaten (13) stay on her in the second half of the Class AA girls state basketball quarterfinal at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on March 13. Tyler Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com

ROSEAU, Minn.-The familiar road back to the state tournament has some new obstacles for Roseau.

The Rams won their fifth consecutive Section 8AA girls basketball title this season. But when the 2019-20 season opens, Roseau will be one of three teams in the section that played in last month's annual Minnesota girls high school state basketball tournament.

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In the Minnesota State High School League's recent realignments for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, state tournament veterans Fergus Falls and Menahga were reassigned to Section 8AA.

"I was really shocked,'' Katie Borowicz said of the new section teams. "I didn't expect any new teams in our section. And those teams aren't really close (geographically) to us.

"We'll have to work a lot harder. It will be a challenge for us. But that will make us a stronger program. We won't stop working hard. We've always played with a chip on our shoulders.''

Roseau will be young next season, with no seniors on the team. It might not be as explosive without Kacie Borowicz.

But Didrikson doesn't look at it as a rebuilding season. With five straight trips to state-including one championship and a top-four finish in each of those seasons-the Rams' program has been one of the most successful in the state.

"I have to think these new teams in our section are thinking, 'We're in the same section as Roseau?' '' Didrikson said. "I would hope we've earned some respect for what we've accomplished.

"And there is motivation for our girls. Nobody wants to be the team that ends the run we're on. And we do have some talent returning.''

Prep sports

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Minnesota realignments

Here are the area alignments for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years as recently announced by the Minnesota State High School League.